The meeting comes ahead of a key gathering of NATO’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group Friday at the Ramstein Air Base, also focusing on more military aid for Kyiv. A US defense official told CNN Austin will be “pressing the Germans” over the tanks.
Pressure builds inside the US and Germany over sending tanks to Ukraine
From CNN's Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood and Oren Liebermann
The Biden administration is stuck in a standoff with Germany over whether to send tanks to Ukraine ahead of a key meeting of western defense leaders in Germany on Friday.
In recent days, German officials have indicated they won’t send their Leopard tanks to Ukraine, or allow any other country with the German-made tanks in their inventory to do so, unless the US also agrees to send its M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv — something the Pentagon has said for months it has no intention of doing.
The United Kingdom, Poland, Finland and the Baltic states have all been pushing for NATO members to provide heavier equipment to Kyiv amid what they believe is a key inflection point in the war. Both Ukraine and Russia appear to be gearing up for new offensives and there are signs Moscow could be preparing an additional troop mobilization.
A western official explained that for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the tanks question “is a red, red, red line. German tanks [fighting] Russia again. Moral issue. Understandable, from the historical viewpoint. Still, speaking of moral burden, I wish Germans were nowadays more sympathetic with Poland. Let alone with Ukraine. Didn’t German tanks kill Ukrainians 80 years ago as well? Now they can defend them from Russian barbaric aggression.”
Pressure building in Berlin: Ahead of a meeting on Thursday in Berlin between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his German counterpart, a senior US defense official said that the US is “very optimistic that we will make progress” on the tanks question.
But not everyone in the US government shares that optimism. A number of senior administration officials privately expressed frustration with German officials for making what the US believes is a false equivalency between the US and German tanks.
The package does not include M1 Abrams tanks, and it is unlikely the US is going to provide them anytime soon because they are difficult and expensive to supply and maintain, US officials said.
Read more about the tension between the US and Germany here.
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Biden administration announces new $2.5 billion security aid package for Ukraine
From CNN's Oren Liebermann
The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, on March 3, 2022.
(Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
The Pentagon announced a $2.5 billion Ukraine security package on Thursday, including Stryker armored vehicles and more Bradley fighting vehicles that could be used against any potential Russian offensive in Ukraine this spring.
The package, publicized one day before an international coalition meets in Germany to discuss more aid to Ukraine, is the second largest ever announced from the United States. The largest totaled more than $3 billion and was announced earlier this month.
The package includes 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers and 59 more Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. The previous package included 50 Bradleys, for a total of more than 100 to be given to Ukraine this month.
The latest package also includes ammunition for the HIMARS rocket system that Ukraine has used to great effect against Russian weapons depots and command posts, as well as additional munitions and systems for aerial defense, which the Pentagon has identified as an ongoing priority.
The US has now committed $26.7 billion to Ukraine in security aid since the beginning of the war nearly one year ago.
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CIA director briefed Zelensky on US expectations for Russia's battlefield planning, officials say
From CNN's Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Kylie Atwood
CIA Director William Burns briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv last week on US expectations for Russia’s battlefield planning in the spring, according to a US official and two Ukrainian sources familiar with the meeting.
Western defense leaders are scheduled to meet Friday at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss further weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Burns, a veteran diplomat, has become a trusted liaison in Kyiv, and last week’s trip was not his first. He made two known back-to-back trips to Kyiv in October and November of last year, including one that took place in the midst of a spate of Russian missile strikes across the country.
The winter months have seen brutal fighting on the front lines, particularly around the city of Bakhmut, but no major strategic gains by either side.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, speaking at the Davos World Economic Forum on Wednesday, called it “not a stalemate but really a grinding conflict at this stage.”
But both sides are thought to be girding for potential offensives in the spring and Kyiv has continued to press the US and its western allies for more support in its fight to beat back Russia. One Ukrainian source emphasized to CNN that Kyiv has become concerned about the pace of weapons supplies to Ukraine — a growing fear as Republicans, some of whom are skeptical of aid to Ukraine, have taken the US House.
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"This will seriously strengthen our army": Zelensky thanks European countries for new military support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked ally countries for continued military support in his nightly address Thursday.
“Today we have several powerful decisions by our partners to strengthen our defense,” the president said.
Nine European countries have pledged further military support to Ukraine, which will help forces move from “resisting to expelling Russian forces,” according to a joint statement published by the British government following a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia.
He also thanked Sweden — which plans send as many as 50 armored combat vehicles, according to a government statement — as well as Denmark and Lithuania who also announced new military packages.
The Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom are also pledging more military resources to Ukraine, the joint statement read.
“This will seriously strengthen our army,” Zelensky said, adding, “We expect a powerful military support package from the United States.”
The US is set to finalize a huge military aid package totaling approximately $2.5 billion worth of weaponry, including for the first time Stryker combat vehicles, two sources briefed on the next tranche of aid told CNN. The package could come by the end of the week, according to one of the sources.
The Ukraine Defense Group, which is chaired by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, is set to meet Friday in Ramstein, Germany.
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It's nighttime in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
Nine European countries have pledged further military support to Ukraine, which will help forces move from “resisting to expelling Russian forces,” according to a joint statement published by the British government following a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia.
The countries are:
Denmark
Czech Republic
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Slovakia
UK
Netherlands
In addition, Sweden plans to send as many as 50 armored combat vehicles as part of its new military aid package, according to a government statement Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the supply of Western-made tanks continues to be “pressing and very sensitive” in his nation’s war against Russia.
Here are the latest headlines:
Dnipro apartment death toll rises to 46, according to regional official: The death toll from Russia’s attack Saturday on an apartment building in Dnipro has risen to 46, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region military administration said Thursday. According to Valentyn Reznichenko, 11 people remain missing. Of those killed, 11 are still yet to be identified, he said.
Power deficit across Ukraine remains significant: The power grid deficit across Ukraine remains “significant, especially during the evening peak,” Ukraine’s national energy company, Ukrenergo, said Thursday. During the evening peak, power generation can only cover three-fourths of the consumption, Ukrenergo said. “Following each subsequent Russian attack on the energy infrastructure, the restoration becomes more difficult and takes longer.”
UN nuclear watchdog chief: There has been a “dramatic reduction” in Ukrainian staff at Zaporizhzhia plant: The UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said at a media briefing in Kyiv that “normally a facility like this has around 10,000 people working and now we are down to 3,000 more or less.” He added that the number was adequate in the current conditions,” because the plant was operating at a low level. “But, of course, it is a matter of concern,” he said.
Russian and Belarusian defense ministers discuss training regional troops: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a phone call with the Belarusian Minister of Defense Viktor Khrenin, both ministries said in separate statements Thursday. According to the readout published by the Belarusian side, the military chiefs “discussed issues of bilateral military cooperation, the ongoing set of strategic deterrence measures, as well as the progress in the preparation of the regional grouping of troops.”
Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine have eased in recent weeks but could pick up in the spring, Microsoft says: Russia’s cyberattacks against Ukrainian targets have eased over the past month, Microsoft President Brad Smith told CNN on Thursday, but he warned that could change with the arrival of springtime. “The last 30 days have been quieter” for Russian cyberattacks, he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, adding that Microsoft has also observed a similar pullback on pro-Kremlin digital propaganda linked to the war.
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It doesn't make sense to provide M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine "at this moment," Pentagon says
From CNN's Haley Britzky
“It just doesn’t make sense” for the US to provide M1 Abrams tanks “at this moment,” Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, said Thursday after German officials said that they will not provide tanks to Ukraine until the US decides to do so as well.
“As you know we’ve provided the Bradleys, we’re seeing other nations step up and continue to provide equipment and material to Ukraine that they can,” Singh said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is meeting with other allies on Friday in Germany during the eighth Ukraine Contact Group, where they will discuss what kind of equipment and weapons systems Ukraine may need in its fight against Russia.
And while the issue of tanks is sure to come up, US officials have repeatedly said Germany can make its own decisions and that the M1 Abrams’ maintenance and sustainment demands make it a difficult piece of equipment to provide to the Ukrainians.
“[W]e’re continuing to work with other partners and allies around the world to see what else can be provided to Ukraine and that’s, that’s the whole point of tomorrow’s meeting,” Singh said Thursday.
Some context: There is growing pressure for Western allies to provide Ukraine with heavy battle tanks.
France, Poland and the United Kingdom have pledged to soon send tanks for the Ukrainian military to use in its efforts to protect itself from Russia. Finland is considering following suit.
Germany has said it would transfer infantry fighting vehicles to Kyiv but is yet to commit to sending tanks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has insisted that any such plan would need to be fully coordinated with the whole of the Western alliance, including the United States.
The Western allies are set to meet tomorrow at the US Ramstein air base in Germany to discuss further military aid for Kyiv.
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9 European countries pledge further weapon donations to Ukraine ahead of key Friday meeting
From CNN's Eve Brennan and Lindsay Isaac in London
Nine European countries have pledged further militarily support to Ukraine, which will help forces move from “resisting to expelling Russian forces,” according to a joint statement published by the British government following a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia.
Beyond continued support for Ukraine, here’s what the countries pledged:
Denmark: Train Ukrainian forces. The country has donated or financed military aid worth close to 600 million euros (about $649 million).
Czech Republic: Increase production capacities for large caliber ammunition, howitzers and armored personnel carriers; increase maintenance, repair and operations capacity.
Estonia: Tens of 155mm FH-70 and 122 mm D-30 howitzers; thousands of rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition; support vehicles for artillery units; hundreds of Carl-Gustaf M2 anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition with the total replacement values of approximately 113 million euros (about $122 million) and training for hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers.
Latvia: Tens of man-portable Stinger air-defense systems; two M-17 helicopters; tens of machine guns with ammunition; several tens of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); spare parts for M109 howitzers and training of about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in various programs.
Lithuania: Support package worth 125 million euros (about $135 million) consisting of dozens of L-70 anti-aircraft guns with tens of thousands of ammunition; two Mi-8 helicopters with the total replacement value of approximately 85 million euros (about $92 million); 40 million euros (about $43.3 million) for procurements like anti-drones, optics, thermo-visual devices and drones and 2 million euros (about $2.1 million) to the UK International Fund for financing heavy weaponry acquisitions projects.
Poland: S-60 anti-aircraft guns with 70,000 pieces of ammunition; already donated 42 infantry fighting vehicles; training packages for two mechanized battalions; more 155mm Krab howitzers and various types of ammunition.
Slovakia: Increase production of howitzers, de-mining equipment and ammunition; train Ukrainian soldiers and expand the training as required by Ukraine.
UK: Challenger 2 tanks with armored recovery and repair vehicles; AS90 self-propelled 155mm guns; hundreds more armored and protected vehicles; minefield breaching and bridging capabilities; dozens more un-crewed aerial systems; 100,000 artillery rounds; guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets; Starstreak air defense missiles; medium-range air defense missiles; 600 Brimstone anti-tank munitions; spares to refurbish up to a hundred Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles; continued training of soldiers and coordinate the International Fund for Ukraine which has raised almost 600 million pounds (about $742.7 million) with partners.
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UN nuclear watchdog chief: There has been a "dramatic reduction" in Ukrainian staff at Zaporizhzhia plant
From CNN's Fred Pleitgen and Tim Lister in Kyiv
A general view of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on April 27, 2022.
(Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said there has been a “dramatic reduction” in the number of Ukrainian staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant since Russian forces occupied the facility and the nearby city in March 2022.
The UN nuclear watchdog chief said at a media briefing in Kyiv that “normally a facility like this has around 10,000 people working and now we are down to 3,000 more or less.”
He added that the number was adequate in the current conditions,” because the plant was operating at a low level. “But of course it is a matter of concern,” he said.
He said that the handful of IAEA staff at the plant were fine and are able do their work correctly.
Grossi said that despite difficult moments throughout the conflict the positive side is that the system at the plant showed resilience.
“The good side [is that] almost a year since the beginning of the conflict on a territory with a vast nuclear infrastructure we have had very difficult moments when facilities have been operating in emergency mode and we saw the resilience of the system,” he said.
Even so, he explained that the situation remained precarious and the IAEA was “very worried” about the Zaporizhzhia plant.
The plant has always been on the frontline and on Thursday alone, there had been two major explosions in the vicinity of the plant, he said.
Grossi said there was no sign that Russia was attempting to link the plant to its own grid.
Asked if Russia showed goodwill and cooperative spirit, Grossi said, “I have a professional engagement with them.” He said Russia had to comply with safety standards that had been agreed by everybody, and he planned to visit Russia soon.
Grossi said that he was concerned that the international community would pay less attention to the situation. “I worry that this is becoming routine … that people might be asking whether the IAEA was crying wolf,” he said.
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Zelensky: Supply of Western-made tanks to Ukraine remains "pressing and very sensitive"
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a news conference with European Council President Charles Michel after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday.
(Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday the supply of Western-made tanks to Ukraine continues to be “pressing and very sensitive” in his nation’s war against Russia.
Zelensky told journalists the impasse over the tanks “depends on a lot of reasons and unfortunately does not depend on Ukraine’s wish.”
Speaking alongside European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv, Zelensky celebrated the fact that several countries had come forward saying they would like to send some of their tanks to Ukraine, but added that in most cases they require permission from manufacturing countries.
“We all are waiting for the approval of the country which has the rights on the particular license,” Zelensky explained.
One of the countries concerned is Germany, which produces the Leopard tank. Poland, Denmark and others have said they want to send some of their Leopard to Ukraine but Berlin has been reluctant to approve the supply German-made tanks, to avoid escalation with Moscow.
“We put as much political pressure, as we can, but most importantly our pressure is based on the solid arguments,” Zelensky said. “The courage of our warriors and motivation of Ukrainian people is not enough against thousands of tanks of Russian Federation.”
Zelensky also said Ukraine was looking at other avenues, namely internal production, but added he did not want to give too much away to Russia.
“Time and speed are important. Each minute is a human life. The faster we are able to deoccupy our territory, the faster we become more powerful, the more our citizens’ lives will be spared,” he added, saying current supplies were not coming in fast enough.
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Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine have eased in recent weeks but could pick up in the spring, Microsoft says
From CNN’s Brian Fung
Russia’s cyberattacks against Ukrainian targets have eased over the past month, Microsoft President Brad Smith told CNN on Thursday, but he warned that could change with the arrival of springtime.
“The last 30 days have been quieter” for Russian cyberattacks, he told CNN at the World Economic Forum in Davos, adding that Microsoft has also observed a similar pullback on pro-Kremlin digital propaganda linked to the war.
But, he warned, that situation could rapidly change.
“Typically, when the spring comes, militaries wage offenses,” Smith said. “We have to be ready for an offensive cyber war, offensive cyber influence activities, and that’s part of what we are preparing for,” he said.
As of Jan. 19, Microsoft has spent $436 million in financial aid and technology assistance to Ukraine, Smith said.
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Former Ukrainian president urges NATO to be united in sending German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed the importance of German-made Leopard tanks for Ukrainian defense in Russia’s war, saying “it is impossible” to shore up a strong offensive operation without these tanks.
He thanked Ukrainian allies, including the United States and Canada, for sending support for Ukrainian defense.
“We think that everybody now understands that we are not only protecting Ukraine, and you are not only supporting and helping Ukraine. We, together, protect freedom, democracy of the whole free world,” he said.
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Dutch prime minister reaffirms calls for "broad coalition" for sending tanks to Ukraine
From CNN's Livvy Doherty
Mark Rutte, Netherlands prime minister, speaks an event on the sidelines on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19.
(Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he understands Germany and other countries who want a “broad coalition” for sending heavy battle tanks to Ukraine.
Rutte noted that it was “crucial” that Ukraine wins the war but “you have to be also honest with him (Zelensky) and say, if you want tanks, for example, at this level he is asking for them, it is necessary that we do this not just by one country, but by a group of countries”
The Dutch prime minister said he was “fairly confident” that Europe and the US could bring their “dialogue” on tanks to a conclusion.
Some background: Kyiv has pleaded for modern tanks, a request the US is not yet willing to grant, even though the UK and other key allies are preparing to send tanks that could make a crucial difference in the war as Kyiv braces for a possible large-scale Russian counter-offensive.
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Ukrainian official repeats call for tanks and asks allies to stop fearing Putin
From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio and Clare Sebastian in London
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has called on the nation’s allies to supply Kyiv with tanks, saying they should stop fearing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Podolyak also appeared to take a jab at Germany for its hesitation in sending its Leopard 2 tanks.
“True leadership is about leading by example, not about looking up to others,” he wrote, following reports Germany wanted the United States to send their Abrams tanks first.
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Dnipro apartment death toll rises to 46, according to regional official
From Maria Kostenko in Kyiv
Memorial area in front of the apartment building destroyed by a Russian missile in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, on January 18.
The death toll from Russia’s attack Saturday on an apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine, has risen to 46, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region military administration said Thursday.
According to Valentyn Reznichenko, 11 people remain missing. Of those killed, 11 are still yet to be identified, he said.
The attack injured an additional 80 people, 24 of whom remain hospitalized. Three of those are in serious condition, among them a 9-year-old girl.
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UK pledges 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine
From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin and Mike Pratt
The United Kingdom will send 600 Brimstone missiles to support Ukraine in its battle against Russia, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced Thursday.
More on this weapon: The Brimstone missile was originally designed as an air-launched munition. However, Ukraine will launch the missile from trucks. The missile is extremely effective, particularly against moving targets, and provides a lower risk of collateral damage than other forms of air-dropped munition.
Wallace’s announcement comes after Downing Street on Saturday announced plans to send 12 Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems as part of efforts to “intensify” support for Ukraine.
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Russian and Belarusian defense ministers discuss training regional troops
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, Russia, on February 14.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a phone call with the Belarusian Minister of Defense Viktor Khrenin, both ministries said in separate statements Thursday.
According to the readout published by the Belarusian side, the military chiefs “discussed issues of bilateral military cooperation, the ongoing set of strategic deterrence measures, as well as the progress in the preparation of the regional grouping of troops.”
Some background: Joint military aviation drills involving Belarusian and Russian forces are underway on the territory of Belarus. According to the Belarusian Defense Ministry, the main goal of the exercises is to “increase operational compatibility in the joint performance of combat training missions.”
The drills launched on Monday and are expected to continue until Feb. 1.
Ukraine and Belarus share a 1,000-kilometer frontier, much of it sparsely populated and thickly forested, but Kyiv has looked anxiously towards it. When Belarusian and Russian forces held joint exercises in February 2022, many of those Russian forces went on to cross the Ukrainian border in their ill-fated drive towards the capital.
The prospect of Ukraine’s long northern border becoming a passageway for Russian forces for the second time this year would be a nightmare for Ukraine’s already stretched forces.
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Sweden will send infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine as part of its biggest military aid to Kyiv
From CNN’s Eve Brennan and Henrik Pettersson
Sweden plans to send as many as 50 armored combat vehicles to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package, according to a Swedish government statement released Thursday.
The package “consists of, among other things, grenade launchers with ammunition, anti-armour ammunition, automatic rifles and mine clearance materiel combat vehicle 90 (CV90) with ammunition and Missile 57 (NLAW),” the statement said.
The new military aid — which also consists of an Archer artillery system — would be worth 4.3 billion Swedish crowns ($419 million) and it’s the biggest defense package Sweden has given to Ukraine so far, according to the statement.
Swedish deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said at a news conference Thursday that Ukraine will be provided with up to 50 CV90 infantry military vehicles and that this makes up the main part of the package.
“Combat Vehicle 90 is Swedish manufactured and considered one of the world’s best combat vehicles, and we’re sending them in a quantity that we know will make a difference,” she said.
The Swedish government has not said how many Archer artillery systems it would send to Ukraine.
What Ukraine is saying: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Sweden for its support, saying in a tweet, “Sincerely grateful to the Government of Sweden [and the Swedish prime minister] for the new military assistance package.”
“CV90 IFVs, Archer self-propelled howitzers & NLAW ATGMs are powerful weapons that [the Ukrainian] army needs to liberate our land from the Russian invader,” Zelensky wrote. “Together to a common victory!” he added.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleskii Reznikov also thanked his Swedish counterpart Kristersson, the Swedish defence minister Pål Jonson for “the 10th package of security assistance” to Ukraine.
“Our warriors will master the artillery and vehicles quickly,” Reznikov said in a tweet Thursday.
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Power deficit across Ukraine remains "significant," national energy company says
From CNN's Maria Kostenko and Radina Gigova
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant outside the city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on November 24.
(Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)
The power grid deficit across Ukraine remains “significant, especially during the evening peak,” Ukraine’s national energy company, Ukrenergo, said in a statement Thursday.
During the evening peak, power generation can only cover three-fourths of the consumption, Ukrenergo said. “Following each subsequent Russian attack on the energy infrastructure, the restoration becomes more difficult and takes longer.”
“As a reminder, Ukraine’s power system has already survived 12 enemy missile attacks and 14 UAV strikes on power facilities. In addition, more than 10 GW of the main installed capacities are currently inaccessible to the Ukrainian power system and are under enemy control,” Ukrenergo said.
These Russian-occupied plants include:
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Ukraine and Europe
Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant
Luhansk Thermal Power Plant
Vuhlehirsk Thermal Power Plant
Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant
“In addition, most wind and solar power plants are also located in the temporarily occupied territories of the south of the country,” the company added.
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It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
From CNN's staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for more Western weapons to enable the country to retake Crimea from Russia.
At the same time, during a week of high-level diplomatic talks on Ukraine, Berlin is under increasing pressure to provide German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, or at least approve deliveries of the tanks from third countries such as Poland.
Here are the latest headlines:
Zelensky asks for weapons to retake Crimea:Ukraine will reclaim Crimea from Russian rule, Zelensky said in a live address streamed at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos on Thursday. “It is not an intention, it is our land. Crimea is our sea and our mountains. Give us your weapons and we will regain [what is] ours,” he asked of the West.
Pistorius takes over as German defense minister: New German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was sworn in on Thursday, taking office just before high-level talks on military support for Ukraine are scheduled to start in Germany. On Thursday, Pistorius will meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who will host a key meeting at the US Ramstein Air Base Friday.
US “pressing” Germany: Austin will be “pressing the Germans” to allow their Leopard tanks to be transferred to Ukraine to provide the “capability in a crucial moment” to counter any potential Russian spring offensive, a senior US defense official told CNN Wednesday.
Poland could send tanks without permission: Poland will either receive permission to transfer German-made tanks to Ukraine “or we will do the right thing ourselves,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Thursday. Morawiecki said Poland had offered Ukraine 14 tanks.
EU official travels to Kyiv: European Council President Charles Michel traveled to Kyiv Thursday to discuss “concrete measures” to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
Helicopter crash victims in recovery: More than a dozen people hurt in Wednesday’s fatal helicopter crash in Brovary do not have serious injuries and are in recovery, according to a Ukrainian official. The crash near a kindergarten in the Kyiv suburb killed 14 people, including one child.
Kremlin criticizes Zelensky’s comments on Putin: Zelensky “would prefer that neither Russia nor (Vladimir) Putin exist,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, after Zelensky said Thursday that he was unsure if the Russian president “is alive.”
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Talks of supplying Ukraine with weapons that can reach Russia are "extremely dangerous," Kremlin says
From CNN's Radina Gigova and Anna Chernova
Any discussions among Western countries about supplying Ukraine with weapons that will allow it to strike at Russian territory are “extremely dangerous,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday during a regular call with journalists.
On Thursday, Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov also commented on weapons shipments to Ukraine, saying: “It should be clear for everyone – we will destroy any weapons supplied to the Zelensky’s regime by either the United States or NATO.”
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Estonia announces more military aid for Ukraine worth $122 million
From CNN's Teele Rebane and Radina Gigova
Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas speaks during a joint press conference at the Tapa Army Base on March 1, in Tallinn, Estonia.
(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
Estonia will send another package of military aid to Ukraine worth 113 million euros ($122 million), Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced Thursday in a statement. The aid package includes dozens of howitzers, over a hundred anti-tank weapons, artillery support equipment, grenade launchers and ammunition, according to the statement.
With the latest aid package, Estonia’s total military assistance to Ukraine will increase to 370 million euros, or slightly more than 1% of Estonia’s gross domestic product, according to the statement – a significant share compared to other European countries.
“Our help and the help of our allies will have a direct impact on the fighting ability of Ukrainian soldiers and this is highly valued in Ukraine. Therefore, it is important to set an example and to motivate other allies to give help as well,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in the same statement.
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European Council president is in Kyiv to discuss further support for Ukraine
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy
European Council President Charles Michel traveled to Kyiv Thursday to discuss “concrete measures” to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
Michel’s visit comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called on allied countries to provide Ukraine with more powerful weaponry, including tanks.
Speaking in a video posted on his official Twitter account on Thursday, Michel said he was going to the Ukrainian capital to meet with Zelensky, as well as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and members of the parliament.
Michel laid out his plan to discuss with Zelensky the “concrete measures” the European Union can take to ensure Ukraine is “stronger” and “more powerful” in the face of Russian attacks.
“They need and deserve our support,” he added.
Later on Thursday morning, Michel tweeted a photo of him hugging the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna, after arriving in Kyiv.
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Kremlin says Zelensky "would prefer that neither Russia nor Putin exist"
From CNN's Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “would prefer that neither Russia nor (Vladimir) Putin exist,” according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, after Zelensky said Thursday that he was unsure if the Russian president “is alive.”
“The sooner the Ukrainian regime shows readiness to take into account the demands of Russia – which will be achieved one way or another – the sooner everything will end and the sooner the people of Ukraine will begin to recover from the tragedy that the Kyiv regime staged,” Peskov claimed.
Earlier Thursday, Zelensky told attendees at Davos that he doesn’t “understand who to talk to” on the Russian side in response to a question about the possibility of peace talks.
“I do not quite understand whether he (Putin) is alive or whether he makes decisions, or who is making decisions,” he said.
“I don’t quite understand how you can promise the European leaders one thing and start a war the next day,” Zelensky added.
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Pressure grows on Germany to ship tanks to Ukraine, as US defense minister meets new German counterpart
From CNN's Nadine Schmidt and Niamh Kennedy
Germany stands “shoulder to shoulder” with its allies in supporting Ukraine, the country’s newly appointed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday.
“Together with our partners, we will continue to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and territorial independence and sovereignty,” Pistorius told reporters in Berlin on Thursday ahead of talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“As so often in history – but especially in times like these – Germany and the United States of America stand shoulder to shoulder,” added Pistorius.
Ukrainian officials have called on Germany to provide the Leopard 2 battle tanks swiftly to push back Russian forces who invaded the country on 24 February last year.
For his part, Austin thanked Germany on Thursday for its efforts to “strengthen Ukraine’s self-defense.”
The US defense secretary also thanked Germany for its “strong support” of the United States’ “increased presence” and for facilitating the movement of soldiers and equipment “to and through Germany to reinforce our eastern flank allies.”
High-level talks: Austin’s meeting with Pistorius on Thursday comes as Germany faces increased pressure to send tanks to Ukraine.
Thursday’s meeting is one of a series of high-level talks on Ukraine taking place this week.
Friday will see a key meeting of NATO’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the US Ramstein Air Base, hosted by Austin, focusing on more military aid for Ukraine.
Austin said the two defense chiefs will discuss Thursday “some of the issues that we’ll tackle tomorrow at the contact group.”
“We’ll also discuss other key issues for the NATO and for our bilateral defense relationship and ways that we can do even more together,” Austin added.
“We are very optimistic that we will make progress on this requirement by the end of the week,” the official added.
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Poland may transfer German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine without Berlin's permission, PM says
From CNN's Antonia Mortensen
Polish military drive a Leopard tank during a live fire demonstration part of the Bear 22 military exercises at the Nowa Deba training ground on September 21, in Nowa Deba, Poland.
(Omar Marques/Getty Images)
Poland will either receive permission to transfer German-made tanks to Ukraine “or we will do the right thing ourselves,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Thursday.
Any transfer of the Leopard 2 battle tanks would typically require permission from Berlin as they are made in Germany.
When asked about the delay in Germany giving permission for the transfer, Morawiecki said Poland had offered Ukraine 14 tanks.
“At the same time, we must ensure that others will also meet these needs. Among these others, the ones that have been the least proactive so far are the Germans,” he said during a video interview on his way back from the International Economic Forum in Davos.
“We will continue to strive, we will continue to push the chancellor’s office and Germany to respond to our proposal as soon as possible.”
New defense minister: Morawiecki was also asked whether he expected a change after Boris Pistorius, who has called for the easing of sanctions against Russia, took over as Germany’s defense minister.
“This worries me a lot. I don’t know much about Germany’s new Defense Minister. What I do know gives me some anxiety,” said Morawiecki.
But Pistorius should be given “a few days time” to see “what his first steps will be,” added Morawiecki.
“The most important thing is for the Germans, Danes, Finns, French and other nations to offer their modern tanks and heavy equipment as soon as possible,” said Morawiecki. “The ability to defend freedom in Ukraine, and thus the security of the whole of Europe, may depend on it.”
‘Encouraging and inspiring others’: Poland has already sent 250 tanks to Ukraine, Morawiecki told CNN’s Richard Quest on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum.
“We were the first who have offered the Leopard tanks and we are now encouraging and inspiring others, in particular the Germans, to give their part,” he said.
“And this is the major question, because 14 tanks on top of 250, is not the game changer, but if France and in particular Germany and some other countries gave 20-30 tanks each, then it could make a difference for Ukraine,” he added.
Some context: There is growing pressure for Western allies to provide Ukraine with heavy battle tanks.
France, Poland and the United Kingdom have pledged to soon send tanks for the Ukrainian military to use in its efforts to protect itself from Russia. Finland is considering following suit.
Germany has said it would transfer infantry fighting vehicles to Kyiv but is yet to commit to sending tanks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has insisted that any such plan would need to be fully coordinated with the whole of the Western alliance, including the United States.
The Western allies are set to meet tomorrow at the US Ramstein air base in Germany to discuss further military aid for Kyiv.
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Brovary helicopter crash death toll stands at 14 with more than a dozen injured
From CNN's Maria Kostenko and Radina Gigova
Rescue services work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Brovary, near Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 18.
(Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
More than a dozen people injured in Wednesday’s helicopter crash in the Ukrainian city of Brovary do not have serious injuries and are in recovery, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, head of the Kyiv region military administration.
“By this morning, the dynamics had changed for the better, thanks to the efforts of our doctors,” Kuleba said on national television on Thursday. “No one is seriously injured. All the injured are of moderate severity.”
There were 16 people injured, including six children, when the helicopter crashed near a kindergarten and a residential block in the Kyiv suburb, killing 14 people.
All nine people on board the helicopter were killed, including Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, with five more people killed on the ground, including one child.
The families of the victims will be provided with financial assistance, said Kuleba.
Utility teams are working at the scene of the crash, inspecting the damage to the residential building and the kindergarten, Kuleba said. Repair works in the residential building will start on Thursday, he added.
“The children who attended the kindergarten will be studying remotely this week, and then their parents will be offered options to transfer them to other kindergartens,” said Kuleba.
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New German defense minister speaks with French counterpart on first day of job
From CNN's Claudia Otto and Nadine Schmidt
Boris Pistorius, new Minister of Defense, gives a press conference after his reception in the Bendlerblock, Berlin, Germany, on January 19.
(Michael Kappeler/picture alliance/Getty Images)
New German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has spoken on the phone with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, according to the German defense ministry.
”That’s why it was particularly important for me to talk with my French colleague Lecornu as quickly as possible.”
Pistorius officially took office on Thursday following the resignation of his predecessor Christine Lambrecht.
Both ministers are set to continue their exchange in person as early as Sunday at the Franco-German Council of Ministers in Paris, the statement continued.
Relations between the two neighbors have recently come under strain over differences ranging from foreign and energy policies to defense procurement and anti-inflation relief measures as the war in Ukraine rages on.
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Zelensky says Ukraine will reclaim Crimea
From CNN's Radina Gigova and Maria Kostenko
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears via video link an event on the sidelines on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19.
(Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Ukraine will reclaim Crimea as it is “our land,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said as he addressed the “Ukraine Breakfast” session at Davos on Thursday.
“But there is still an opportunity for Russia to leave this territory, and not only this one. No one is saying that relations can be restored, but it can save the lives of their people,” he said.
“The gap between our countries is enormous. It is not artificial. It has been dug by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. He is standing with this shovel and will remain with this shovel in history,” Zelensky said.
Asked about the possibility of peace negotiations, Zelensky said: “Peace talks are not peace. The parties need to realize it. For the past three years [since he became president] we did everything we could to liberate our land through diplomacy,” he said.
“Someone did not want to, did not have time, did not believe, put forward conditions. There were many such people, and the center of that all was in Moscow,” he added.
“I don’t understand who to talk to. I do not quite understand whether he [Putin] is alive or whether he makes decisions, or who is making decisions,” said Zelensky. “I don’t quite understand how you can promise the European leaders one thing and start a war the next day.”
Some context: This isn’t the first time that Zelensky has vowed to overthrow Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last year. Speaking last August, he stressed that for Ukrainians, Crimea is “not just some territory” or even a “figure in the geopolitical game.” “For Ukraine, Crimea is a part of our people, our society, a community of people to whom we guarantee freedom,” he said at the time.
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Zelensky renews plea to West for more weapons to fight Russia
From CNN's Maria Kostenko
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine talks from a video screen to participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 18.
(Markus Schreiber/AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday once again called upon Western allies and partners to send more weapons to Ukraine to help fight Russian aggression.
Speaking during a live address streamed at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Zelensky said Ukraine urgently needs equipment, artillery and shells.
Ukraine’s air defense remains a weakness and Russia is likely to launch another series of drone attacks soon, Zelensky added.
“There are moments when there is no need to hesitate. When people say, ‘I’ll give you tanks if someone else does,’” he said.
International support: Zelensky’s appeal comes as the US is set to finalize $2.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine that includes a first shipment of Stryker combat vehicles, sources told CNN. The package is not expected to include tanks or the long-range missiles sought by Kyiv.
All eyes are on now on Germany as defense leaders meet to discuss military support for Ukraine. With the United Kingdom and Poland announcing plans to send battle tanks, international pressure is growing on Berlin to approve the delivery of German-made Leopard battle tanks to Kyiv — or at least approve their transfer from third countries.
Germany’s new defense minister is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart in Berlin Thursday ahead of a key meeting Friday with NATO’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the US’ Ramstein Air Base.
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"It is our land": Zelensky repeats vow that Ukraine will reclaim Crimea
From CNN's Maria Kostenko
Ukraine will reclaim Crimea from Russian rule, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday during a live address streamed at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
When asked by the “Ukrainian Breakfast” session panel if he intended to liberate Crimea, Zelensky replied with a renewed appeal for more Western arms.
Some context: This isn’t the first time that Zelensky has vowed to overthrow Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last year. Speaking last August, he stressed that for Ukrainians, Crimea is “not just some territory” or even a “figure in the geopolitical game.” “For Ukraine, Crimea is a part of our people, our society, a community of people to whom we guarantee freedom,” he said at the time.
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New German defense minister takes office hours before high-level talks on support for Ukraine
From CNN's Nadine Schmidt
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, shakes hands with Germany's new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as he hands him over the certificate of appointment at the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin on January 19.
(Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images)
New German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was sworn in on Thursday morning, taking office right before high-level talks on military support for Ukraine are scheduled to start in Germany this week.
On Thursday — his first day on the job — Pistorius will meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Berlin. On Friday, he will be part of a key meeting with NATO’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the US’ Ramstein Air Base, hosted by Austin, that will focus on more military aid for Kyiv.
Pistorius succeeds former Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, who resigned on Monday.
Tank talks: All eyes are on Germany as defense leaders meet to discuss military support for Ukraine. With the United Kingdom and Poland announcing plans to send battle tanks, international pressure is growing on Berlin to approve the delivery of German-made Leopard battle tanks to Kyiv — or at least approve their transfer from third countries.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday reiterated his support for Ukraine at the World Economic Forum in Davos but stayed clear of committing to battle tanks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an impassioned speech before political leaders and delegates in Davos that same day, calling on Western partners to speed up the delivery of tanks and other supplies to counter Russia’s invasion.
On Wednesday, a senior US defense official told CNN the US was “optimistic” that Germany will agree to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
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US "optimistic" that Germany will send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, defense official says
From CNN's Michael Callahan
Slovakian military personnel walk on a German Leopard Tank in Bratislava, Slovakia, December 2022.
(Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will be “pressing the Germans” to allow their Leopard tanks to be transferred to Ukraine to provide the “capability in a crucial moment” to counter any potential Russian spring offensive, a senior US defense official told CNN Wednesday.
Germany has signaled a reluctance to approve the transfer of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine from other countries. Germany needs to sign off on the transfer before countries such as Poland and Finland, which have openly stated their willingness to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, are allowed to follow through on any shipments.
“We are never going alone, because this is necessary in a very difficult situation like this,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday.
Austin is in Germany, where he is set to meet with the German defense minister before convening a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group Friday to discuss aid for Ukraine with approximately 50 countries and organizations.
Some context: The US is set to finalize $2.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine that includes a first shipment of Stryker combat vehicles, sources told CNN. The package is not expected to include tanks or the long-range missiles sought by Kyiv.
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US set to finalize $2.5 billion aid package for Ukraine
From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Oren Liebermann
Ukrainian soldiers use their phones next to an armored vehicle at the front line in Kreminna on January 6.
(Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)
The United States is set to finalize a huge military aid package for Ukraine totaling approximately $2.5 billion worth of weaponry, including — for the first time — Stryker combat vehicles, two sources briefed on the next tranche of aid told CNN. The package is not yet finalized, one of the sources said, but could come before the end of the week.
The new package is one of the largest to be announced since the war started last February, according to one source. It would include more armored Bradley Fighting Vehicles that, combined with the Strykers, is a significant escalation in the armored vehicles the US has committed to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. Mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, known as MRAPs, are also on the list, the source said.
The announcement is not expected to include tanks or the long-range missiles that Kyiv has repeatedly asked for. The US is expected to send Ukraine more ammunition for its artillery systems and HIMARS rocket systems that have been consistent in recent aid packages.
Ukrainian officials have been fiercely lobbying Washington for longer-range missiles known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a range of around 200 miles (300 kilometers). The Biden administration has resisted sending them out of fear of escalating the conflict. The administration has also pushed back on sending M1 Abrams tanks because of logistical and maintenance complications.
Funds for energy support: The Biden administration also intends to provide $125 million in additional energy support for Ukraine, according to the US Agency for International Development. The funding, which will be drawn from the 2023 Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in December, builds on existing contributions to assist Ukraine in the face of attacks from Russia.
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UN nuclear watchdog finalizes deployment of permanent missions to Ukrainian power plants
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Lauren Kent
The UN nuclear watchdog finalized the deployment of permanent missions to Ukrainian power plants — including the plants in Rivne, Chornobyl, and south Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian prime minister following his meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday.
The IAEA mission at Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant will also be functioning soon, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a news conference, with all the mission’s work continuing during wartime and afterward to restore any damage.
The IAEA is expanding its presence in Ukraine, Director General Rafael Grossi said.
Remember: Zaporizhzhia, with six reactors, is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. The area, and the nuclear complex, has been under Russian control since the beginning of the war. Grossi and other nuclear experts have been concerned about the threat of a nuclear accident amid shelling around the plant.
Shmyhal said Ukraine has asked that the control of the Zaporizhzhia facility be returned to Ukrainian authorities and for a “complete withdrawal” of Russian troops and Rosatom personnel from the plant. Grossi assured Ukraine the IAEA would never recognize Russia as the owner of the Zaporizhzhia plant, according to Shmyhal.
The prime minister added that Ukraine will “continue to insist on limiting Russia’s rights and privileges in the IAEA and terminating cooperation with Russia in the nuclear sphere.”
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NATO chief "is confident" that Turkey will finalize accession process for Finland and Sweden
From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin in London
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said he believed that Turkey would finalize the process for Nordic countries Finland and Sweden to join the US-led military alliance.
This would be the “fastest accession process in NATO’s modern history,” he noted. “Normally, accession to NATO takes years. It’s less than a year since Finland and Sweden applied.”
Remember: NATO decisions are made by consensus, which means all 30 alliance member states must approve the two nations joining. Turkey is the only member that has voiced opposition to their membership, on the grounds of terror concerns.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in video remarks to the forum Wednesday again reiterated his desire for Ukraine to join NATO, saying the alliance “is the best security guarantee for us, for our country, for our kids.”
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NATO must "support Ukraine as long as it takes," deputy chief says
From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin
Mircea Geoană speaks to the media in Berlin, Germany, on May 15.
Janine Schmitz/Photothek/Getty Images
NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană on Wednesday warned the alliance must be prepared “for the long haul” with regards to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Addressing defense chiefs at a NATO military committee meeting in Brussels, Geoană said allies should invest more in defense, ramp up their capacity to manufacture weapons and ammunition and “prepare for potential future wars.”
Echoing a warning issued previously by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Geoană said “underestimating Russia is dangerous.” He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had already mobilized more than 200,000 additional troops.
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Putin says goal of so-called "special operation" is to "end the war" in Donbas, according to state media
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the goal of what he calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine is to “end the war” in the eastern Donbas region, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.
Speaking at a meeting with World War II veterans and survivors of the siege of Leningrad, Putin reportedly said that effectively “full-scale hostilities in Donbas have not stopped since 2014 — with the use of heavy equipment, artillery, tanks and aircraft.”
In late December, Putin used the word “war” to refer to the conflict in Ukraine, the first known time he has publicly deviated from his carefully crafted description of Moscow’s invasion as a “special military operation.”
More on Donbas: The industrial region blankets much of eastern Ukraine and has been the front line of the country’s conflict with Moscow since 2014. The Donbas’ longstanding industrial pull has attracted people from across Eastern Europe over the past century, and it has had strong social and economic ties to neighboring Russia as well as the rest of Ukraine.
Its distance from the capital Kyiv and other metropolitan centers has given rise to a vast collection of local movements, and that was the backdrop upon which pro-Russian separatists attempted to seize control following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.
Putin’s annexation of Crimea and the occupation of parts of Donbas by Russian-backed rebels in 2014 brought to a crashing halt a period of increasing prosperity in the region.
War broke out in 2014 after Russian-backed rebels seized government buildings in towns and cities across eastern Ukraine. Intense fighting left portions of Luhansk and Donetsk in the hands of Russian-backed separatists.
CNN’s Rob Picheta contributed reporting to this post.
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Helicopter crash near Kyiv kills 14, including Ukrainian interior minister
From CNN's Maria Kostenko, Sophie Tanno, Brent Swails and Ivana Kottasová
A helicopter carrying the leadership team of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry crashed near a kindergarten and residential block in the Kyiv region on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people, including all nine people on board, according to officials.
A further 25 people were injured following the incident in the city of Brovary Wednesday, including 11 children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Fourteen bodies were found at the crash site, including one child and all nine people who were on board the helicopter — six ministry officials and three crew members, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES).
Ukrainian National Police confirmed that Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis were among the dead.
The official cause for the crash has yet to be announced, and there has been no suggestion from any Ukrainian officials about Russian involvement.
When asked why the entire leadership of the Interior Ministry was traveling together, Gerashchenko replied: “I think this bloody lesson will be a clear example for us that such high politicians and ministers cannot travel altogether. But this tragedy brought the death of children which is amazingly horrible — and obviously everyone who died — every life of every Ukrainian is priceless.”
The crash has stunned the country at a critical moment in the war: Ukraine has been imploring Western allies for more weaponry as Russian strikes hit its critical infrastructure and civilian populations with abandon.
